Lawn moweb



July 17, 1928. 1,677,377

w. H. ADKlNs LAWN MWER Filed D80- 6, 1926 2 SheebS-She'rl 2 @M fp. 4MM.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ADKINS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LAWN MOWER,

Application filed December My invention relates to improvements in lawn-mowers and my Objectis to provide a machine of this character in which the rotary cutter is driven independently of the carrier wheels so that grass may be cut when desired while the machine is standing still as well as when moving forward.

Another object is to provide a machine of Vthis character in which the rotary cutter is driven by a small but powerful motor so that said cutter is not likely to become stalled while cutting grassand other vegetation.

A further object is to provide a compact machine which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction and one which is not apt to get out of order.

Other, objects will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lawn-mower.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lawnmower.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the lawn mower with the face plate of the gear case removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Y

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates the carrier wheels of the lawnmower, 3 the frame, 5 the roller, 6 the rotary cutter which embodies a plurality of blades 8, 10 the shaft upon which the rotary cutter 6 is mounted, 12 the handle for pushing and guiding the lawn-mower, and 14 the ledger plate which cooperates with the blades 8 in cutting grass and other growing vegetation. The foregoing parts may be of ordinary construction, excepting that the carrier wheels 2 are not geared to the rotary cutter 6 to drive the same, but run freely upon ball bearings 16 and 16Et mounted upon axially alined shaft sections 18 and 20 journaled in bearings 21 and 22, respectively, mounted within the ends of a horizontally disposed housing 24 which encloses a motor 26. The housing 24 extends transversely across the lawn-mower and is secured at one end to the frame 3 and at its opposite end to a gear case 60. For convenience of assembling the mechanism located within the housing 24, the latter is provided with an end 25 which is removably held in place by screws 27'.

The motor 26 is preferably in the form 0f an electric motor with its armature 32 fixedly mounted upon the shaft section 20 to drive 6', 1926. SerialNo. 152,886.

the same. One end of the shaft section 20 is provided with a clutch member 34 which is slidably mounted upon said shaft section 20 and caused to rotate therewith through the intermediary of a. groove-and-feather connection 36. The clutch member 34 is held in frictional engagement with a companion clutch member 38 which is ixedly mounted upon the shaft section 18. A coil spring 40 is interposed between a collar 42 and the clutch member 34 for holding the latter in engagement with the clutch member 38. The collar 42 is secured to the shaft section 20 by suitable means such as a set screw 44 so that said collar 42 may be adjusted for the purpose of tensioning the spring 40.

The shaft section 18 drives the rotary cutter 6 through the intermediary of a gear train consisting of a pinion 46 fixedly mounted upon the shaft section 18, a large cog wheel 48 intermeshing with the pinion 46 and mounted upon a shaft 50, a small cog wheel 52 connected to the cog Wheel 48 to rotate therewith, and a large cog wheel 54 fixedly mounted upon the cutter shaft 10 and intermeshing with the small cog wheel 52. Y

The train of gears above described are proportioned to drive the rotary cutter 6 at 'a slower speed than that at which the armature 32 rotates, so that amp-le power may be had for driving said rotary cutter 6 and also tov prevent undue wear on the blades 8 and the ledger plate 14 which would occur if the cutter 6 rotated as rapidly as the armature 32. The train of gears above described are housed in the gear case here-inbefore referred to and provided with a removable face plate 62. Said gear case 60 is secured to one side of the frame 3 and the housing 24.

By mounting the carrier wheels 2in axial alinement with the motor 26 compactness is obtained and by having said motor 26 drive the rotary cutter 6 independently of the carrier wheels, 2 said cutter 6 may be driven at normal speed irrespective of whether the lawn-mower is standing still or advancing at a. steady or variable speeds. The frictional clutch members 34 and 38 enable the rot-ary cutter 6 to remain stationary in the event it becomes stalled while the motor 26' continues to run without danger of damaging any of the intervening mechanism.

Any suitable means for establishing an electric circuit for the operation of the motor may be provided. In the present instance I have shown a Wire -56 leading to the motor 26 and a Wire "58 Vleading yfrom said motor. Said Wires 56 and 58 are connected to a socket 60lL on the handle 12. Wires, ynot shown, leading to and 4from a. souroe'of sup ply may be provided with any Well-known plug for Connection with the socket 60. The last-mentioned Wires may 'he fof any .suitable length to permit the lawn-mower to be pushed `hack and forth over a lawn and if desired 4said wires may he arranged upon any Well known spring actuated reel so that they wi 1l beitaken up er .pa-ident as. required during fthe eperwation of the lawn-mower.

From the foregoing description it apparentthalt I have provided anefieientllawnino-Wer which is Well adapted for the purpose intended and may :he loperated .by a person Withe'u'tlthe fatigue attendant upon the manual operation of ithat type of lawneniower in which 'the rotary cutter is driven `from the carrier wheels, as with 4my lawnenovf-or Ait is only `necessary* for the @operator to vpush the machine Jb'aelz and iorth over a 'lawn Vwhile the motor 526, through the `train of gears, drve'stliie rotary Icutter 6. l

While I have shown anddescribed the prefemed construction, combination Vand' arrangement of parts I reserve the right to all sueh `(mene-fs and modiiietiens as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of the inventionas elainied. l i

Having 'thus described my invention, what `Ielainn and desire to securel by Letters Patframe yand at its opposite end te vnaicl ,gear

ease, a motor tprovided. with a` shaft journaled in ysaid :housing A4and extending :freely through the hub of 4one of the eanrer wheels, a shaft sectionrarrranged in :axiu alinement with the motor shaft and jonrnaled in fsaid housing, :said :sha-tt section ext-ending :freely through the .huh of another Currier Wheel, meainsthrough which the :meter shwt fdrives said shaft section, and gearing .in the gear ease and through which said sha/ft section drives the cutter. Y

1n testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM 1L yAninnrs. 

